It was the day after the cyclone in the Jaffna Peninsula I called i n at the residence of N. Kandiah, Captain of Royal in the memorable Jubilee Match of 1929. He is an old friend of mine but I had not met him for many a long year. He was in bed and when my arrival was announced by his wife he was pleasantly surprised and tried to jump out of bed like a sprightly lad, but alas he failed, for as so many of us are beginning to realise, age has placed her lock of infirmity on our once-active limbs. I helped him into the garden where 1 could see and talk to the hero of yester-years.

I began by reminding him that the Royal-Thomian Centenary Match would take place in the coming March. A toothless smile, a very proud one at that, dawned on his face and with a faraway look in his eyes, he whispered, "Yes, yes I know, but what can I do? I can't walk or talk properly." I told him that Royal had not and would never forget him and that I had been sent as a special emissary to get a few words from him.

He smiled again and a wave of confidence spread over his face. "Those were the days." he murmured. "Sydney, Wilson, F. C. de Saram, a host of my friends; how we all got together to achieve victory over the Thomians and how we got it, in the true Royal spirit." His mind wandered a little further down memory lane. "How I got Dudley's wicket in the first innings, when he was really set. He was a wonderful fellow." He stopped for a while and then continued, "In 1967 I was standing at a bus halt near Vogue Jewellers, Bambalapitiya when a huge limousine stopped by me and I heard a familiar voice say, "Hey, Kandus, what the hell are you doing here? Jump in man." I was shocked to see Dudley the Prime Minister."

Tears came to his eyes. He said, "He took me to Temple Trees and we chatted for many hours. We were like boys again. Later he drove me to the Fort Railway Station where I got Into the Jaffna train."

By this time the feeble man was wonderfully activated. "I was like young Ranjan Madugalle fifty years ago, but now everything is gone, gone forever."   I intervened, "Kandus, we are taking you for the Centenary Match and we will not take 'no' for an answer." He smiled again and said, "We will see."

As I rose to take my leave I asked him, "What have you got to tell your Royal friends?" Hugging me he replied "Royal is always Royal. We will damn well win the match. If I can I will come with you to see the glorious game and to see my school win." I bid him adieu and left him, a misty eyed old man who in the days of yore wielded the willow and brought glory to Royal.

(Notes made by Dr. S. Anandarajan at an interview with N. Kandiah)

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